Minnesota United v Vancouver Whitecaps: Ramsay looking for enthusiasm to end Loons´ losing run

Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay wants his team to “grind through” their tough period as they aim to bounce back against Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.

The Loons are winless in five and have lost each of their last four matches, conceding a stoppage-time winner against Portland Timbers last time out to extend that run.

They have dropped to seventh in the Western Conference, and Ramsay is confident he will get the reaction he needs from his players.

“We’ve got to take the best from [the defeat] and really try and grind through what is an immensely difficult period for us and come out of the other side well,” he said.

“We’ve got to move forward in as constructive and pragmatic a way that we can. That is the only attitude that can be adopted at the moment. To look at it any other way is ridiculous.

“Ultimately, we have to approach Wednesday’s game with a level of enthusiasm. There’s no other way to look at it.”

Meanwhile, Vancouver can leapfrog Minnesota if they get a road win on Wednesday to build on their impressive 4-3 victory over St. Louis City last time out.

The Whitecaps had to come from behind to earn the victory, and head coach Vanni Sartini praised the character his team showed.

“It was being conscious that we’re a good team,” Sartini said. “We were always calm and collected.

“Those three points were really important with our two games in hand, and we have to play two very important away games. We have to win both, and we want results in both, but the standings don’t look bad.”

Setting up for the comeback pic.twitter.com/rAfovvrcjK

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) July 1, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Bongokuhle Hlongwane

Bongokuhle Hlongwane recorded a goal and an assist in Minnesota’s defeat to Portland on Saturday, his fourth regular-season match with a goal and an assist for the Loons, tied with Robin Lod, Darwin Quintero and Emanuel Reynoso for the most in club history.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

Brian White scored his second hat-trick for the Whitecaps in their 4-3 win over St. Louis City on Saturday, the first player in team history with multiple hat-tricks.

Only one other player, Cristian Techera in 2018, has scored a regular-season hat-trick for the Whitecaps in the last decade.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota are unbeaten in six all-time home matches against Vancouver (W3 D3), though the Whitecaps managed a draw in their last visit to St. Paul, 1-1 in March 2023.

Minnesota have lost four consecutive regular-season matches for the fourth time and the first since the first four matches of the 2021 season. The Loons have never lost five consecutive regular season matches.

Meanwhile, the Whitecaps overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat St. Louis City, 4-3, on Saturday, the fourth time Vancouver won a match in which they trailed by multiple goals and the first at home since June 2013 against New England.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 45.7%

Draw – 26.8%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 27.5%